Awards / Recognition

Earl Williams & Associates believes in promoting energy efficiency and environmental responsibility within the constraints of marketable and affordable building technology. We focus on a home’s environment and the safety it affords our clients realizing that each client has special needs and each home has its own individual challenges.

The Star Awards “Project of the Year – Remodeler” involves a total home remodel in Colleyville, Texas. The client wanted an older home in an established neighborhood with trees and sidewalks but also the newest in home amenities. We presented to him the idea of making this a total green project. It would get the owner the best in resale value, the newest products and the most efficient environment for the health of his family and his pocketbook.

We needed to focus on every system in the house. We inventoried the heat and air conditioning system, with special emphasis on the duct work; the plumbing, with an eye toward water efficiency; and the home’s energy use, particularly with the plug load. The only things we did not change were the windows and the walls. The rest was fair game.

First stop: HVAC. The air conditioning in the home ran constantly, but it never felt cool. There were a number of duct issues and the air returns were very sloppy and inefficient. We put returns every place we put a duct and we divided the downstairs into three separate [HVAC] zones — the kitchen, the living areas, the bedrooms. Each one is set independently during the course of the day as there need for heating or cooling throughout the day or night. We upgraded their original 10 seer units to duel speed 16 seer units. In addition to making the HVAC system more efficient, it also improved the indoor environmental quality of the house.

Next stop: the kitchen. The original countertops were granite, which remain a popular choice in many high-end kitchen remodels, but not appropriate for this clients. This is a very active family with a teenage daughter and middle-school son. Granite was not the choice. Instead, engineered stone was used because it’s “more forgiving, easier to maintain and repair, and it’s quite elegant.” The owners chose a quartz countertop from the DuPont Zodiaq line for the kitchen and as well as the bathrooms.

The kitchen appliances were replaced with new, more efficient models that carry Energy Star® certification, and the light fixtures – both in the kitchen and throughout the house — were refitted with compact fluorescent bulbs

Water efficiency is integral to green building practices, and especially important to these homeowners, who had lived with water restrictions in San Antonio. We replaced the faucets with low-flow fixtures, switched out the toilets with dual-flush models, and the traditional water heaters with the new efficient Tank-less styles.

We also made a point of including safety features in the bathrooms, something we pay closer attention to as an NAHB CAPS professional. New walk-in showers will help prevent slipping and falls, and the toilets are comfort height. They look good, they look elegant, and they are much better for use and efficiency.

Award Winning Kitchen Remodel

Earl Williams & Associates was a finalist in three categories, and won the ARC award for Best Kitchen Remodel under $35,000 at the 2009 ceremony hosted by the Home Builders Association of Greater Dallas

OTHER RECOGNITION:

• Finalist: ARC Awards – Presented by the Home Builders Association of Greater Dallas. Best Bathroom under $35,000!
• Finalist: ARC Awards – Presented by the Home Builders Association of Greater Dallas. Best Whole House Renovations under $250,000